PaddyMurphy

Winter's coming up and I am wondering about how to treat my new 8 in the snow. The main thing I'm curious about is what would be a good set of snow tires that aren't ridiculously expensive? I've heard Pirelli and Blizak are good, any other suggestions?

Also, is there any advantage to having a separate set of winter and summer rims?

Finally, seeing as how I'm a new owner, this is my primary car, and this is my first nice car, any suggestions on how I can make it through the winter without killing the girl? This is the only winter that it will be a problem since i'll be able to garage it every other year, but I want to take care of it right this winter. Thanks in advance for everyone's advice.

WHealy

Paddy,

Take the time to search the Wheel and tire forum. I realize that this might not be exactly the response you were looking for, but the options are many and well document there. Trust me, it's a reliable snow car with the right shoes.

Gord96BRG

Yup, please do a search for "winter tires" and "winter wheels" in this forum section, and in the Canada regional forum section. There are a bunch of threads where we discussed tire choices and wheel choices for winter driving.

After you've read a bunch of those, please feel free to post any further questions you've got.

Regards,
Gordon

zelig2

I'm really thinking it's getting close to the time to make one of those threads a sticky, or at least make a new post with a nice big list and explanation. I know when I was hunting for winter tire information every time I did a search I'd come up with posts with you just saying to do a search. Combine the thread with people's photos and one with the discussions on sizes. Personally after reading everything I could find I'm looking to get a set of Dunlop M3 tires (225/50HR17) on Kosei K1 Racing 17" x 7.5" rims. The total on TireRack for this set will be $1364. Right now I'm debating on if I should get the TPMS for these installed or not. I want to but it does add an extra $400 or so on to the price.

Shamblerock

My research shows that the Michelin Pilot Alpine pa2 are the best to get. I am comforted by this because I had Pilot Alpine on my 99 Passat and was extremely please. Aparently, the tires only got better and @ 225 50 17, they are v-rated. I'm in the same boat in Canada. Still have not pulled the trigger because its CAN$2,000 (US$1500) for cheap RTX 17x7 rims and the pilots. Any stells wheel available for this car? If I can save $400, I'll do it.

Gord96BRG

You're shopping at the wrong place! Check out www.tiretrends.com - Lots of 17" wheels in RX-8 sizes for $160 to $200 each. I've posted about TireTrends several times - I bought my Konig Heliums and Toyo Garit HT winter setup there last year (and other wheels and tires previously), and their customer service is excellent.

Regards,
Gordon

Shamblerock

Gordon, thanks. Seems like a good outfit. Once I factored in the price of rims and tires they beat my local guy by about $100. Thanks for the tip. I'll probably get what I need in the first week of October. Thanks again.

bean438

Although I didnt order from tiretrends, I concur with Gord. They are excellent to deal with. Very helpfull to me. I will oreder tires in the future.
I went local simply because I had to see the rims fit on my car in person.
Not that I do not trust my online comrades as to what fits.
It is just a quirk that I have.
My cost was only 150.00 more to buy locally and I believe in building a relationship with my local tire guy whom I trust.
Much easier to have a dealer back you for warranty issues.
Sometimes it makes sense to pay a little more for service.

TEPerera

HI All!! I am New!!

I am thinking of buying a RX-8. But, I have read some articles / when it comes to winter driving, it will be difficulit since it is rear wheel driving. I never had a Rear wheel driving car and this will be my first sports car which I cannot wait to get my hands on.

-> Please let me know whether this is true or not?

Also I have few more other quesiton, I would like to ask from you all who owns a such a nice car / rather than the dealer

-> How is it on Gas? I travel a lot, most of the time Ottawa <-> Toronto.

-> If I buy the RX-GS which is the base model which does not have the Traction and all the other goodies for the winter. Will it be an issue. And do you think I can survive with just Winter tires with a RX-GS? Or Do I need to spend money on a RX-8 GT.

Please, I would like to know some honest opinion on these

-> Also would like to know, will it make a big difference with Automatic and Manual during the Winter time? Which is easir to drive / AUto or Manual?

Thanks for all the advise and replies / In advance!!

AQA101

-> Winter driving with RWD should be not more difficult than with FWD with the proper tires. The typical RWD characteristics are emphazised in winter, that's all.

-> I'd say traction control is worth the money, winter and summer alike. Your rear tires probably live a little longer with TC as well. The RX-8 electronic protection systems are very advanced btw and they don't limit the driver in normal situations. I recently did a drivers training and the instructor (who was a former race driver) just dropped his jaw when he saw what the stability control of this car is able to do.

-> One word on gas: Mileage is high, period. But fun is fun, so who cares for the money?

-> AT/MT: This depends on your skills and where you drive. A skilled driver is better off with MT in some situations (mountains, curvy roads and stuck in the mud), AT is more comfortable in the city. I imagine AT stealing much the fun though, because this car is all about revving and shifting and the endless possibilities of the wide rev band. This is my first car in which I shift three gears at once in some situations.

bean438

I have an 8 automatic tranny. Auto is "easier" to drive than manual but I dont mind the automatic. My wife didnt want to learn to drive stick.
Dont listen to people if they try to bash auto or manual. Its your car. Buy what you want to drive.
Guys at work tease me about my "sissy, *** girl automatic transmission sports car".
I tell them that I heard the manual rx8 is more fun to drive and if they wouldnt mind bringing in their manual rx8 I would love to try it and see the difference.
This usually shuts them up.
My 8 has not been winter driven, but I had a Nissan 2 wheel drive truck with no traction control etc. No problems what so ever. Add winter tires to the 8 and it is a non issue.
If conditions are bad enough that you would get stuck with winter tires than you shouldnt be out driving.
If I remember correctly alot of 8 drivers actually disable the traction control in their cars.
As for gas mileage, well it really isnt that great, neither is the trunk space.
My wife and I went to the twin cities for a holiday. She was able to pack a weeks worth of clothing in the trunk no problem.ANyone who knows my wife will tell you that the feat was nothing short of a miracle.
I dont know what kind of mileage I get. I know it is worse than my protege but I dont care.
If you want fuel economy buy a Civic.
If you want a fantastic car that looks great, gets lots of looks, and provides a driving expeirence that borders on being better than sex (well ok its not that great but point made) than buy an RX8.
Case closed.